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Original poster

Have you ever saved a human life?

160 replies

NewLifePending · 19/12/2021 22:31

I did on Friday. Two in fact.

I’m still a little traumatised by the events but after debriefs, writing a long reflection and my first counselling session tomorrow, I’m starting to see the enormity of what I did in a more positive light.

Who else has saved a life and how did you feel about it at the time and then later on?

OP posts:
FetchezLaVache · 19/12/2021 22:37

I grabbed a toddler who was about to walk into the path of a car. I was just upset to think what might have happened if I hadn't been there. It was years ago and my blood still runs cold when I think about it.

Can you tell us about your story, @NewLifePending (and does your user name mean what I think it does?)?

MrsPear · 19/12/2021 22:38

My mother in law saved mine. Not in a dramatic way just by making me ask something: she still doesn’t get the enormity of it tbh.

As you for you op well done on stepping up and I’m glad you are getting help to process.

Einszwei · 19/12/2021 22:38

I have saved kids from drowning in swimming pools quite a few times. It is so important to teach children how to swim/float from a young age.

ChoccySprinkles · 19/12/2021 22:39

I have, but not in some spectacular fashion. I posted something on social media years ago and recently someone told me that it stopped them from committing suicide. It wasn’t about suicide at all but it gave them hope to continue

Namechangedforspooky · 19/12/2021 22:40

Yes a lot of times but in a work environment. It’s a nice feeling

CherryRedDMs · 19/12/2021 22:43

Yes, it was a housemate who tried to kill herself and I came home early. Her parents were overwhelmingly grateful, and she blocked me on everything and never spoke to me again so this combination left me feeling very weird about it for a long time.

DixieSun · 19/12/2021 22:43

No but well done Thanks

Gensola · 19/12/2021 22:44

Yes, someone was choking and went purple and blacked out at a dinner I was at and no one was willing to do anything as they were all too scared and I did the heimlich manoeuvre on him, a piece of gristle came flying out and he started breathing again. It was quite surreal!

123rd · 19/12/2021 22:45

Plucked a child out of a pool too. That was just a quick reaction to something that happened. Right time right place kind of thing
And saved someone from chocking. I was quite shocked after the chocking incident. At the time I just did what I needed to do but afterwards I was very emotional

hivemindneeded · 19/12/2021 22:45

Only in a very round about way. My mum had just made a summer dress. She tried it on and I said there was a bit of balled up blue cotton fluff on her arm. I went to brush it off and realised it was a blue mole in a blind spot on her arm that she'd never be able to see herself. She got it checked out and it was very close to her lymph nodes.

SusanHalf · 19/12/2021 22:45

Recently donated stem cells which went to someone in the uk

hivemindneeded · 19/12/2021 22:46

I did also once ages ago talk to someone on MN all night long who said she was suicidal. We chatted until her husband came home from night shift, i never heard from her again so I have no idea what happened to her after that. I often think of her.

RIPWalter · 19/12/2021 22:47

I'm a paramedic so, yes I've saved a few lives.

But on the night storm Arwen I was driving to the gym on a pitch black A road when an oncoming car flashed me, so I took it easy only to come upon a very very drunk young man (not dressed appropriately for the sleeting, windy coldness) was staggering on and off the verge and right out as far as the centre white line on occasions. I crawled behind him with hazards on and called the police and just followed him weaving around for 30 minutes until the police came and gave him a lift home.

I would hope anyone else would have done the same.

Sadly I've seen the damage to a human body that occurs in these circumstances (NYE many years ago) and couldn't have lived with myself if I'd seen his death reported in the local news.

MonkeyPuddle · 19/12/2021 22:48

Well done love. Take some time. It’s alright to not be alright about these things. You got some people to talk to?

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/12/2021 22:48

Yes, both in a 'OMG from the brink way' and also in a more measured 'had I not been there' way. Work related.

OP make sure you watch for PTSD. It's serious and somethin a counsellor can work with you on.

LoveFall · 19/12/2021 22:48

As a teen I took lots of swimming lessons and qualified as a lifeguard. We were on summer holidays at a lake. A bunch of the younger kids were playing on a floating dock, trying to tip it etc. something we used to play at for hours. Laughing ourselves silly.

I was lying on the regular dock and heard shouting. One of the kids was in trouble. I swam to her. She was having an asthma attack. I towed her in then tried to help her until her Mom arrived. I have asthma too so I used some of the breathing techniques I had been taught.

That was the only time I used those skills. I was glad I had them that day.

my8thMNusername · 19/12/2021 22:49

My baby sister in the pool when we were very young (we grew up in a hot climate). I'd forgotten about that for a while!

Habbyhadno · 19/12/2021 22:50

Yes my DD stopped breathing when she was 12 days old and I did CPR on her and saved her life. She's a healthy, happy toddler now and the absolute light of my life.

TwistedOlivers · 19/12/2021 22:50

Saved my DP's twice (cardiac arrest/choking)
An elderly lady, cardiac arrest

TwistedOlivers · 19/12/2021 22:53

And I sat and talked to a teenager who was sobbing and very distraught, went to a nearby cafe had a hot chocolate and cake and she was smiling when she left me to go home

BillyBarryBoo · 19/12/2021 22:55

I stopped a child once who was swimming out to sea after a ball. I probably didn't actually save his life but it wasn't the most safe of situations

PermanentTemporary · 19/12/2021 22:56

No. I'm pretty sure I've caused two deaths and been a significant factor in another though.

inininsomnia · 19/12/2021 22:57

I stopped people committing suicide three times. Two of those times, it was my husband and I'll never know how serious he was. The other was a stranger who might well have tried again the next day or the next. I did what I could though.

(Well done, OP)

littlemissalwaystired · 19/12/2021 22:57

I'm a midwife and have saved a fair few. Out of work though, never I don't think.

Offtobednow · 19/12/2021 22:58

A few times in a work capacity (I’m a nurse) mainly by escalating deteriorating patients to the relevant teams. One patient, in particular, I just felt wasn’t right even though their observations were ok and i got her admitted to CCU. She then rapidly deteriorated and needed emergency surgery and would have died if still on the ward.

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